🚀 go-pugleaf

"Andy Judge" <andy.judge@belgravium.co.uk> wrote in message
news:pg2sgu4m4dl7c7guuro38h2u0dp93u162a@4ax.com...
> In a word - HELP !
>
> I am trying to sort out a problem on my parents PC (unfortunately, they
are
> 160 miles away in Portsmouth !)
>
> The story...
>
> Their PC was in need of a sort out and they had been unable to get a
dial-up
> connection working with their USB modem for some time.  The decided that
they
> would like an updated PC, so when I visited them a couple of weeks ago, I
> upgraded them with a new MOBO/proc/mem/HD, and did a full re-install of
> Windows ME.
>
> Every thing went fine, and the new system is stable.  The only thing I
> couldn't get working was their modem.  I tried all the usual things, and
came
> to the conclusion that as the modem didn't work on their old PC, or their
new
> PC or my laptop, whereas my (PCMCIA) modem in my laptop did work with
their
> phone line, that the modem was duff.
>
> After I came home, M&D went and bought a new modem (USB from Novatech
> (www.novatech.co.uk) - a fairly generic Smartlink type thing - same as
their
> previous one).
>
> Same problem :-(
>
> It all installs happily, WinME happily talks to the driver (and I believe
the
> device as the lights come on when attempting to dial), Diagnostics check
out
> OK, but it just won't dial.  Picking up a handset, DigitalDot says "Please
> replace your handset".  Using Hyperterm, one can happily use AT commands,
but
> it WILL NOT DIAL (getting cross now...)
>
> M&D took modem back to Novatech who checked it and decided that it was
faulty,
> replaced it with another which does the same thing - ie NOT DIAL !
>
> BT have checked the line - OK - and anyway voice calls and my modem are
fine
>
> I got M&D to remove all other phones/wiring from master socket - to no
avail.
>
> I've run out of ideas now (which is a bit embarrassing as I am s/w
engineer
> come PC techie :-( )
>
> So, what does the panel think ?

The usual problem with modems in the UK being unable to dial is a phone
interface issue. That is, the telephone wiring requirements in the UK differ
from many other countries and a special cable or an adapter is required.
Another possible issue is country code (though I would think that shouldn't
be an issue with modems purchased within the UK). If you have already
addressed these with the vendors who are selling you these modems then I am
at as much of a loss as you are.


--

Hooda Gest
"The only thing I do immediately is procrastinate."